Text Search:

Text Options:

Third Day
-
Novel VI

[Voice:
fiammetta
]

[
001
]
Ricciardo Minutolo loves the wife of Filippello Fighinolfi,
and knowing her to be jealous, makes her believe that
his own wife is to meet Filippello at a bagnio on the
ensuing day; whereby she is induced to go thither,
where, thinking to have been with her husband, she
discovers that she has tarried with Ricciardo.

[Voice:
author
]

[
002
]
When Elisa had quite done, the queen, after some commendation
of Zima's sagacity, bade Fiammetta follow with a story. Whereto
Fiammetta, all smiles, responded:
“
Madam, with all my heart;
”
and thus began:

[Voice:
fiammetta
]

[
003
]
Richly though our city abounds, as in all things else, so also in
instances to suit every topic, yet I am minded to journey some
distance thence, and, like Elisa, to tell you something of what goes
on in other parts of the world: wherefore pass we to Naples, where
you shall hear how one of these sanctified that shew themselves so
shy of love, was by the subtlety of her lover brought to taste of the
fruit before she had known the flowers of love; whereby at one and
the same time you may derive from the past counsel of prudence for
the future, and present delectation.

[Voice:
fiammetta
]

[
004
]
In the very ancient city of Naples, which for loveliness has not
its superior or perhaps its equal in Italy, there once lived a young
man, renowned alike for noble blood and the splendour of his vast
wealth, his name Ricciardo Minutolo. He was mated with a very
fair and loving wife; but nevertheless he became enamoured of a
lady who in the general opinion vastly surpassed in beauty every other
lady in Naples. Catella--such was the lady's name--was married to
a young man, likewise of gentle blood, Filippello Fighinolfi by name,
whom she, most virtuous of ladies, loved and held dear above all else
in the world. [
005
]
Being thus enamoured of Catella, Ricciardo Minutolo
left none of those means untried whereby a lady's favour and love
are wont to be gained, but for all that he made no way towards the
attainment of his heart's desire: whereby he fell into a sort of despair,
and witless and powerless to loose himself from his love, found life
scarce tolerable, and yet knew not how to die. [
006
]
While in this frame
he languished, it befell one day that some ladies that were of kin to
him counselled him earnestly to be quit of such a love, whereby he
could but fret himself to no purpose, seeing that Catella cared for
nought in the world save Filippello, and lived in such a state of
jealousy on his account that never a bird flew but she feared lest it
should snatch him from her. [
007
]
So soon as Ricciardo heard of Catella's
jealousy, he forthwith began to ponder how he might make it
subserve his end. He feigned to have given up his love for Catella
as hopeless, and to have transferred it to another lady, in whose
honour he accordingly began to tilt and joust and do all that he
had been wont to do in honour of Catella. [
008
]
Nor was it long before
well-nigh all the Neapolitans, including Catella herself, began to
think that he had forgotten Catella, and was to the last degree
enamoured of the other lady. In this course he persisted, until the
opinion was so firmly rooted in the minds of all that even Catella
laid aside a certain reserve which she had used towards him while
she deemed him her lover, and, coming and going, greeted him in
friendly, neighbourly fashion, like the rest. [
009
]
Now it so befell that
during the hot season, when, according to the custom of the
Neapolitans, many companies of ladies and gentlemen went down to
the sea-coast to recreate themselves and breakfast and sup, Ricciardo,
knowing that Catella was gone thither with her company, went
likewise with his, but, making as if he were not minded to stay
there, he received several invitations from the ladies of Catella's
company before he accepted any. [
010
]
When the ladies received him,
they all with one accord, including Catella, began to rally him on
his new love, and he furnished them with more matter for talk
by feigning a most ardent passion. At length most of the ladies
being gone off, one hither, another thither, as they do in such places,
leaving Catella and a few others with Ricciardo, he tossed at Catella
a light allusion to a certain love of her husband Filippello, which
threw her at once into such a fit of jealousy, that she inly burned
with a vehement desire to know what Ricciardo meant. [
011
]
For a
while she kept her own counsel; then, brooking no more suspense,
she adjured Ricciardo, by the love he bore the lady whom most he
loved, to expound to her what he had said touching Filippello. [
012
]
He
answered thus:
“
You have adjured me by her to whom I dare
not deny aught that you may ask of me; my riddle therefore I will
presently read you, provided you promise me that neither to him nor
to any one else will you impart aught of what I shall relate to you,
until you shall have ocular evidence of its truth; which, so you desire
it, I will teach you how you may obtain.
”
[
013
]
The lady accepted his
terms, which rather confirmed her belief in his veracity, and swore
that she would not tell a soul. They then drew a little apart, that
they might not be overheard by the rest, and Ricciardo thus began:
“
Madam, did I love you, as I once did, I should not dare to tell
you aught that I thought might cause you pain; but, now that that
love is past, I shall have the less hesitation in telling you the truth.
[
014
]
Whether Filippello ever resented the love which I bore you, or
deemed that it was returned by you, I know not: whether it were
so or no, he certainly never shewed any such feeling to me; [
015
]
but
so it is that now, having waited, perhaps, until, as he supposes, I am
less likely to be on my guard, he shews a disposition to serve me
as I doubt he suspects that I served him; that is to say, he would
fain have his pleasure of my wife, whom for some time past he has,
as I discover, plied with messages through most secret channels. She
has told me all, and has answered him according to my instructions:
[
016
]
but only this morning, just before I came hither, I found a woman
in close parley with her in the house, whose true character and
purpose I forthwith divined; so I called my wife, and asked what the
woman wanted. [
017
]
Whereto she answered: ''Tis this persecution
by Filippello which thou hast brought upon me by the encouraging
answers that thou wouldst have me give him: he now tells me that
he is most earnestly desirous to know my intentions, and that, should
I be so minded, he would contrive that I should have secret access
to a bagnio in this city, and he is most urgent and instant that I
should consent. And hadst thou not, wherefore I know not, bidden
me keep the affair afoot, I would have dismissed him in such a
sort that my movements would have been exempt from his prying
observation for ever. [
018
]
Upon this I saw that the affair was going
too far; I determined to have no more of it, and to let you know
it, that you may understand how he requites your whole-hearted
faith, which brought me of late to the verge of death. [
019
]
And that
you may not suppose that these are but empty words and idle tales,
but may be able, should you so desire, to verify them by sight and
touch, I caused my wife to tell the woman who still waited her
answer, that she would be at the bagnio to-morrow about none,
during the siesta: with which answer the woman went away well
content. [
020
]
Now you do not, I suppose, imagine that I would send
her thither; but if I were in your place, he should find me there
instead of her whom he thinks to find there; and when I had been
some little time with him, I would give him to understand with
whom he had been, and he should have of me such honour as he
deserved. Whereby, I doubt not, he would be put to such shame
as would at one and the same time avenge both the wrong which
he has done to you and that which he plots against me.
”

[Voice:
fiammetta
]

[
021
]
Catella, as is the wont of the jealous, hearkened to Ricciardo's words
without so much as giving a thought to the speaker or his wiles,
inclined at once to credit his story, and began to twist certain antecedent
matters into accord with it; then, suddenly kindling with
wrath, she answered, that to the bagnio she would certainly go;
'twould cause her no great inconvenience, and if he should come, she
would so shame him that he should never again set eyes on woman
but his ears would tingle. [
022
]
Satisfied by what he heard, that his
stratagem was well conceived, and success sure, Ricciardo added much
in corroboration of his story, and having thus confirmed her belief
in it, besought her to keep it always close, whereto she pledged
her faith.

[Voice:
fiammetta
]

[
023
]
Next morning Ricciardo hied him to the good woman that kept
the bagnio to which he had directed Catella, told her the enterprise
which he had in hand, and prayed her to aid him therein so far as
she might be able. The good woman, who was much beholden to
him, assured him that she would gladly do so, and concerted with
him all that was to be said and done. [
024
]
She had in the bagnio a room
which was very dark, being without any window to admit the light.
This room, by Ricciardo's direction, she set in order, and made up a
bed there as well as she could, into which bed Ricciardo got, as soon
as he had breakfasted, and there awaited Catella's coming.

[Voice:
fiammetta
]

[
025
]
Now Catella, still giving more credence to Ricciardo's story than
it merited, had gone home in the evening in a most resentful mood,
and Filippello, returning home the same evening with a mind greatly
preoccupied, was scarce as familiar with her as he was wont to be.
[
026
]
Which she marking, grew yet more suspicious than before, and said
to herself:
“
Doubtless he is thinking of the lady of whom he expects
to take his pleasure to-morrow, as most assuredly he shall not;
”
and
so, musing and meditating what she should say to him after their
rencounter at the bagnio, she spent the best part of the night. [
027
]
But--to
shorten my story--upon the stroke of none Catella, taking with
her a single attendant, but otherwise adhering to her original intention,
hied her to the bagnio which Ricciardo had indicated; and finding
the good woman there, asked her whether Filippello had been there
that day. [
028
]
Primed by Ricciardo, the good woman asked her, whether
she were the lady that was to come to speak with him; [
029
]
to which she
answered in the affirmative.
[
030
]
“
Go to him, then,
”
said the good
woman. [
031
]
And so Catella, in quest of that which she would gladly
not have found, was shewn to the chamber where Ricciardo was,
and having entered without uncovering her head, closed the door
behind her. Overjoyed to see her, Ricciardo sprang out of bed, took
her in his arms, and said caressingly:
“
Welcome, my soul.
”
[
032
]
Catella, dissembling, for she was minded at first to counterfeit another
woman, returned his embrace, kissed him, and lavished endearments
upon him; saying, the while, not a word, lest her speech should
betray her. The darkness of the room, which was profound, was
equally welcome to both; nor were they there long enough for their
eyes to recover power. Ricciardo helped Catella on to the bed,
where, with no word said on either side in a voice that might be
recognized, they lay a long while, much more to the solace and
satisfaction of the one than of the other party. [
033
]
Then, Catella,
deeming it high time to vent her harboured resentment, burst forth
in a blaze of wrath on this wise:
“
Alas! how wretched is the lot
of women, how misplaced of not a few the love they bear their
husbands! Ah, woe is me! for eight years have I loved thee more
dearly than my life; and now I find that thou, base miscreant that
thou art, dost nought but burn and languish for love of another
woman! [
034
]
Here thou hast been--with whom, thinkest thou? Even
with her whom thou hast too long deluded with thy false blandishments,
making pretence to love her while thou art enamoured of
another. 'Tis I, Catella, not the wife of Ricciardo, false traitor
that thou art; list if thou knowest my voice; 'tis I indeed! Ah!
would we were but in the light!--it seems to me a thousand years
till then--that I might shame thee as thou deservest, vile, pestilent
dog that thou art! [
035
]
Alas! woe is me! such love as I have borne so
many years--to whom? To this faithless dog, that, thinking to have a
strange woman in his embrace, has in the brief while that I have
been with him here lavished upon me more caresses and endearments
than during all the forepast time that I have been his! [
036
]
A lively
spark indeed art thou to-day, renegade dog, that shewest thyself
so limp and enervate and impotent at home! But, God be praised,
thou hast tilled thine own plot, and not another's, as thou didst believe.
[
037
]
No wonder that last night thou heldest aloof from me; thou wast
thinking of scattering thy seed elsewhere, and wast minded to shew
thyself a lusty knight when thou shouldst join battle. But praise be
to God and my sagacity, the water has nevertheless taken its proper
course. [
038
]
Where is thy answer, culprit? Hast thou nought to say?
Have my words struck thee dumb? God's faith! I know not why I
forbear to pluck thine eyes out with my fingers! Thou thoughtest
to perpetrate this treason with no small secrecy; but, by God, one is
as knowing as another; thy plot has failed; I had better hounds on
thy trail than thou didst think for.
”
[
039
]
Ricciardo, inly delighted by her
words, made no answer, but embraced and kissed her more than
ever, and overwhelmed her with his endearments. So she continued
her reproaches, saying:
“
Ay, thou thinkest to cajole me with thy
feigned caresses, wearisome dog that thou art, and so to pacify and
mollify me; but thou art mistaken. I shall never be mollified, until
I have covered thee with infamy in the presence of all our kinsfolk
and friends and neighbours. [
040
]
Am I not, miscreant, as fair as the wife
of Ricciardo Minutolo? Am I not as good a lady as she? Why
dost not answer, vile dog? Wherein has she the advantage of me?
Away with thee! touch me not; thou hast done feats of arms more
than enough for to-day. [
041
]
Well I know that, now that thou knowest
who I am, thou wilt wreak thy will on me by force: but by God's
grace I will yet disappoint thee. I know not why I forbear to send
for Ricciardo, who loved me more than himself and yet was never
able to boast that he had a single glance from me; nor know I why
'twere wrong to do so. Thou thoughtest to have his wife here, and
'tis no fault of thine that thou hadst her not: so, if I had him, thou
couldst not justly blame me.
”

[Voice:
fiammetta
]

[
042
]
Enough had now been said: the lady's mortification was extreme;
and, as she ended, Ricciardo bethought him that, if he suffered her,
thus deluded, to depart, much evil might ensue. He therefore
resolved to make himself known, and disabuse her of her error. So,
taking her in his arms, and clipping her so close that she could not
get loose, he said:
“
Sweet my soul, be not wroth: that which,
while artlessly I loved, I might not have, Love has taught me to
compass by guile: know that I am thy Ricciardo.
”

[Voice:
fiammetta
]

[
043
]
At these words and the voice, which she recognized, Catella
started, and would have sprung out of the bed; which being
impossible, she essayed a cry; but Ricciardo laid a hand upon her
mouth, and closed it, saying:
“
Madam, that which is done can
never be undone, though you should cry out for the rest of your
days, and should you in such or any other wise publish this matter to
any, two consequences will ensue. [
044
]
In the first place (and this is a
point which touches you very nearly) your honour and fair fame will
be blasted; for, however you may say that I lured you hither by
guile, I shall deny it, and affirm, on the contrary, that I induced you
to come hither by promises of money and gifts, and that 'tis but
because you are vexed that what I gave you did not altogether come
up to your expectations, that you make such a cry and clamour; and
you know that folk are more prone to believe evil than good, and
therefore I am no less likely to be believed than you. [
045
]
The further
consequence will be mortal enmity between your husband and me, and
the event were as like to be that I killed him as that he killed me:
which if I did, you would never more know joy or peace. Wherefore,
heart of my body, do not at one and the same time bring dishonour
upon yourself and set your husband and me at strife and in jeopardy
of our lives. [
046
]
You are not the first, nor will you be the last to be
beguiled; nor have I beguiled you to rob you of aught, but for excess
of love that I bear, and shall ever bear, you, being your most lowly
vassal. And though it is now a great while that I, and what I have
and can and am worth, are yours, yet I am minded that so it shall be
henceforth more than ever before. Your discretion in other matters
is not unknown to me, and I doubt not 'twill be equally manifest
in this.
”

[Voice:
fiammetta
]

[
047
]
Ricciardo's admonitions were received by Catella with many a
bitter tear; but though she was very wroth and very sad at heart,
yet Ricciardo's true words so far commanded the assent of her
reason, that she acknowledged that 'twas possible they might be
verified by the event. Wherefore she made answer:
[
048
]
“
Ricciardo,
I know not how God will grant me patience to bear the villainy and
knavery which thou hast practised upon me; and though in this
place, to which simplicity and excess of jealousy guided my steps, I
raise no cry, rest assured that I shall never be happy, until in one way
or another I know myself avenged of that which thou hast done to
me. Wherefore unhand me, let me go: thou hast had thy desire of
me, and hast tormented me to thy heart's content: 'tis time to release
me; let me go, I pray thee.
”
[
049
]
But Ricciardo, seeing that she was
still much ruffled in spirit, was resolved not to let her go, until he
had made his peace with her. So he addressed himself to soothe
her; and by dint of most dulcet phrases and entreaties and adjurations
he did at last prevail with her to give him her pardon; nay, by
joint consent, they tarried there a great while to the exceeding great
delight of both. [
050
]
Indeed the lady, finding her lover's kisses smack
much better than those of her husband, converted her asperity into
sweetness, and from that day forth cherished a most tender love for
Ricciardo; whereof, using all circumspection, they many a time had
solace. God grant us solace of ours.